Two-straight days of water main breaks frustrate Jersey City residents

Posted Mar 18, 2020

Crews work to fix a 20-inch water main break at Ocean Avenue and Merritt Street in Jersey City on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Garfield Avenue is flooded with water from the main break.Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal

Two water main breaks in 24 hours knocked out water to more than 600 customers in the southern portion of Jersey City, stoking frustrations when many residents are confined to their homes.

Early Tuesday morning, a 20-inch main between Old Bergen Road and Merritt Avenue broke, spilling water into the street and shutting off water for roughly 450 customers in southern Jersey City.

The main had not yet been fully repaired by around 2 a.m. Wednesday when another 8-inch main between Ocean and Garfield avenues broke, shutting down service to approximately another 175 customers, according to Suez, the company that manages the city’s water system.

The breakages came as Gov. Phil Murphy ordered schools and businesses to close in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Many residents were just beginning to self-isolate themselves at home.

Some areas of Jersey City were left without tap water all day Tuesday, though Suez sent three tankers to the area to supply residents with water. Ken Best, who lives in the affected area, said Tuesday his water slowed to a “trickle.”

By mid-day Wednesday, Suez had restored service to all the affected customers, spokeswoman Ghilianie Soto said, noting that it was possible the two breakages were connected.

Soto said the utility was well aware of residents’ irritation.

“We completely understand their frustration,” she said. “Especially with the outbreak of the coronavirus, our focus is to protect the residents and make sure they have the resources that they need.”

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